Ken Burns's ‘The Vietnam War' to premiere on AETN Sept. 17

Posted 08 Sep 2017

"The Vietnam War," a 10-part, 18-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, will premiere on the Arkansas Educational Television Network Sunday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. An immersive, 360-degree narrative, the series tells the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never before been told on film. The first five episodes will air Sept. 17 through Thursday, Sept. 21, and the final five episodes will air Sunday, Sept. 24, through Thursday, Sept. 28, at 7 each night. A repeat broadcast will immediately follow the premiere of each episode.

The series will repeat in October, with episodes airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m., beginning Oct. 3.

AETN is producing local programs in conjunction with the series premiere, including:

"Arkansans Ask: Veterans History Project," to air Thursday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. - The Library of Congress houses the Veterans History Project, which "collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans." This episode will offer information about this effort and provide guidance for Arkansans to participate in the project. The various aspects of the "AETN Salutes Arkansas Vietnam Veterans" initiative will also be discussed. Panelists include: retired Col. Anita Deason, military and veterans affairs liaison, U.S. Senator John Boozman; Olivia Olson, Library of Congress Veterans History Project volunteer; Dillon Vick, Library of Congress Veterans History Project volunteer; and Julie Thomas, AETN marketing and outreach director.

"Barnes and… A Conversation With Col. Karen Lloyd," to air Monday, Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m. - Steve Barnes visits with Col. Karen D. Lloyd, director of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. She oversees the direction of activities of the Library of Congress to ensure the collection, preservation and accessibility of the personal testimonies of American war veterans.

Additionally, each Thursday night, following regularly scheduled programs at 8 and 9 p.m., AETN will air short videos with an Arkansas focus produced to complement "The Vietnam War."

The film will be accompanied by an outreach and public engagement program, providing opportunities for communities to participate in a national conversation about what happened during the Vietnam War, what went wrong and what lessons are to be learned.

Viewers are encouraged to join the conversation: #VietnamWarPBS.

AETN's local initiative, "AETN Salutes Arkansas Vietnam Veterans," also includes the following:

Vietnam story collection - AETN is collecting stories of those who experienced the Vietnam War. The public is invited to share stories through social media outlets with #VietnamStoriesPBS or the "Share Your Story" tool at aetn.org/thevietnamwar.

The Wall of Faces - The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is committed to finding a photo to go with each of the more than 58,000 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. AETN is encouraging the public to help collect the more than 150 missing Arkansas photos for The Wall of Faces.

Quilts of Valor - AETN and the Arkansas chapter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation have partnered to provide quilts of comfort and healing for Arkansas Vietnam veterans. The public is invited to nominate a veteran to receive a quilt. Anyone interested in contributing to the quilters' efforts may consider donating fabric and other quilting items at local screening events.

Preview screening events - AETN and community partners will host multiple preview screenings of "The Vietnam War" throughout the state in August and September. An opportunity for discussion will follow each screening.

Educational resources - PBS is creating an interactive website and an educational initiative to engage teachers and students through multiple platforms. AETN PBS LearningMedia features a collection of classroom resources to encourage students to explore the many dimensions of this history including key military, political and cultural events, as well as the diverse human experiences featured in the series. Lesson plans, videos and activities will be available for K-12 students, teachers and parents.

Additional information about AETN's local initiative, including complete information on how to get involved, is available at aetn.org/thevietnamwar.

Funding for "The Vietnam War" is provided by Bank of America; Corporation for Public Broadcasting; PBS; David H. Koch; The Blavatnik Family Foundation; Park Foundation; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; National Endowment for the Humanities; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Ford Foundation Just Films; Rockefeller Brothers Fund; and Members of The Better Angels Society.

The Arkansas Educational Television Network is Arkansas's only statewide public media network, which enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. AETN delivers local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers through the distinct channels AETN PBS, AETN Create, AETN PBS KIDS, AETN World and AETN AIRS on SAP. AETN depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at aetn.org. AETN is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro) and KETZ (El Dorado).